Norfield Children’s Center builds a new playground
Written by Patricia Gay Thursday, 12 January 2012 00:00
Preschool students had a grand time last week climbing Toddler Mountain, skipping on the Stump Walk, and pumping high on double swings at the new playground at Norfield Children’s Center.
The playground was officially opened after Britta Lerner, the former president of the center’s board of directors, cut a red ribbon at a formal ceremony on Friday, Jan. 6.
The playground is at the side and back of the Norfield Children’s Center, located at Norfield Church, 64 Norfield Road. the school is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization that offers nursery school and pre-kindergarten programs.
The new equipment covers two sides of the playground. For the youngest children, on one side, there is Toddler Mountain, which features tiered steps, a slide and a slanted climbing wall — all housed under a sunburst shade roof — a sand dig, ball run, double swings, and musical chime wall.
The side geared toward older children is connected by a gate with a trellis, and contains a music wall, double swings, and a Dream Tower featuring monkey bars, a firepole, double slide, crawl tube, climbing wall, soft ladder, rising suspension bridge, curved chute slide, lookout tower and sunshade roof.
The side for older children also has a stump walk, a sand ship with a bench, pouring tubes, steering wheel and sunshade roof, a Jeep, weaving wall, a new garden planter and moveable goals.
Years of fund raising
The playground was designed by Fred Martin of Environment Design, LLC. and cost approximately $47,000. it replaces an older playground in the same spot. the money for the project was raised through years of fund raising and personal donations.
Initial plans for the new playground were first drawn up in 2007, but a modified plan was approved this past fall. Actual demolition and construction began around Thanksgiving and ended on Dec. 16, according to Mary Nosenzo, one of the center’s directors.
“We wanted to provide an exciting and stimulating environment for all of Norfield’s children. the old playground was certainly not completely worn down, but it had seen a lot of love and a lot of action. we also wanted to provide a few more challenges for the older children, while allowing everyone to have fun, and this new design does just that,” Ms. Nosenzo said.
She also wanted a space that was good for children to enjoy outdoor time, to connect with nature and explore the world around them. “What they see as fun new stuff also happens to be fantastic teaching opportunities,” she said.
The playground was a real group effort. Ms. Lerner, who cut the opening red ribbon, was the board’s president in 2007 when the playground’s plans were first drawn up. Subsequent Presidents Candace Kuzma and Kim Grogan kept the team moving, and the current president, Catherine Revzon, was in place to see the project completed, Ms. Nosenzo said.
There was also a Playground Committee that followed through with the final details, led by the board’s vice president, Shelby Baxter. Ms. Nosenzo and co-director Penny Anderson also had input into the elements that would be included.
“Over the years, many families contributed at fund-raising events and they all helped to make this happen. It’s so good to see all the fun the children are having with the new playground,” Ms. Nosenzo said.
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